Estate

Kamala Harris Proposes Medicare Cover In-Home Healthcare

Vice President Kamala Harris proposed a plan for Medicare to cover in-home healthcare....

Will be downsizing soon, better to pay cash or get a mortgage?

I'm retired, husband will be retiring in about 2 years. We are planning to sell our large, Midwestern home and move out west into a smaller house when he does. If we don't go crazy we can pay cash for...

How can I live in two countries?

I own a home in the U.S. but want to live in Australia. Due to its visa restrictions, I can only be there three months at a time, which means I'd split my "residency" between the two countries. Plus, ...

The 20 States Real Estate Investors Should Avoid Unless They Love Filing Tax Returns

It's not always easy determining how much you owe in state taxes for passive investments. Here's a guide that will help you figure it out. The post The 20 States Real Estate Investors Should Avoid Unl...

Should You Change Your Estate Plan Before the Election?

You might need to modify your estate plan before the election — or at least before a new administration....

Does It Make Sense for Doctors to Rent Forever?

Can you imagine renting forever and never actually buying a house? For some people (and maybe for some docs), it could be the right decision. The post Does It Make Sense for Doctors to Rent Forever? a...

Three Major Estate Plan Mistakes to Avoid

A complete and up-to-date estate plan can help ease your loved ones' worries and make things easier for them after you pass....

Move to +55 community or stay in our current home after age 70?

My partner and I are both retired and have lived in our current home in central Texas since 1986 - new build (partner purchased the home two months before we met). House is a two story in a fully deve...

Ideas for How Start a Band Among Retirees

I am 68 and looking to get together with some other retirees, primarily to jam but possibly to play out occasionally. We could get together at my house; I have a music room that could accommodate a sm...

Settling The Work From Home Debate Once And For All

One of the most significant developments to come out of the pandemic, if not the greatest, was the shift to remote work for millions of employees. Beginning in March 2020, businesses quickly adapted o...

The house is our longterm care policy. Is this an ok plan?

We live in an area where the value of houses has appreciated quite a bit, and ours is paid off. We do not have an LTC policy, having heard poor experiences and reviews. But, depending on how long we c...

Here's What The Interest Rate Cut Means For Retirees

Find out how the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut could affect your retirement savings, investments, and mortgage payments....

Fitness Update: “You Looked Like An Amorphous Blob”

You looked like an amorphous blob. – a friend’s honest review of my physical shape Amorphous Blobs When I was working, I was very busy. Between a full-time job, a home remodel, this blog, ...

How to Choose Your Next Real Estate Agent

When a husband learns he has a metastasizing tumor, or a mom receives news that her toddler has a rare ... Read more...

Low-income Housing Improved but Residents Still Struggle

U.S. house prices and rents have been rising for decades, interrupted only by the Great Recession. Rising costs have increased the already considerable burden on low-income people to pay for housing. ...

What Creates That Cozy, Nestled Home Feeling In A Big City

Have you ever walked into a home and instantly felt cozy, even in the heart of a bustling city? It's hard to pinpoint exactly why it feels so comfortable and serene amidst all the noise and chaos. In ...

25 Things Home Buyers Instantly Hate About Your House

With over 24 years of experience as a real estate investor, I’ve seen countless homes struggle to sell. The reason? First impressions matter more than you might think. When potential buyers walk...

Retirees Living in Someone Else’s Home See Big Savings

More than one in five older Americans is living with other adults – adult offspring, parents, grandchildren, extended family, friends – who are not their romantic partners. A new study exa...

Getting Started on Estate Planning: Key Actions to Take

Use this checklist to create an estate plan that reflects your goals and values....

Resist The Temptation To Do A Cash-Out Refinance As Rates Collapse

With record-high home equity and declining mortgage rates, the temptation to do a cash-out refinance is growing. I’ve certainly considered it myself. However, after careful reflection, my conclu...

This Double-Dip Trust Benefit Really Is Too Good to Be True

Let's clear up the confusion among some trust makers and taxpayers over how grantor trust status affects the step-up in basis and estate tax exclusion....

Four Key Elements of a Good Estate Plan

An estate plan can be complex or simple, depending on your estate and your wishes, but every estate plan should accomplish these basic goals....

Considering a 721 Exchange? Adopt a Buyer Beware Mindset

Having a tax-smart exit strategy for your real estate investment is a great idea, but if a 721 exchange is part of your plan, here's what you need to consider....

2024 Year End Estate Planning: Are You Ready?

You may need to take action before 2024 year-end to protect your estate plan: avoid reciprocal trust & step transaction doctrines, file for the Corporate Transparency Act...

Maximizing Real Estate Returns In A Multi-Year Rate Cut Environment

At long last, the time has finally come for the Fed to begin cutting rates in September. As a result, real estate investors will likely benefit from a tailwind over the next couple of years, after a r...

To not be in debt in retirement, when do you buy your last house?

After an earlier post about advice to give to kids about retirement, one of the most common answers was to be debt-free at retirement, including a mortgage. I got to thinking about that, and what that...

"old person" housing in a state that do not tax on retirement income?

hello! I've entered my 50's and I need to start planning for housing...I just like to plan things and of course, I'm single, so it's good for me to plan, too. someone in a subreddit somewhere on reddi...

Aging in Place Will Be Big Business for Home Builders

Many people will be looking to make their homes aging-friendly in the years to come....

IoT as a Service (IoTaaS): Simplifying Adoption for Enterprises

IoT has transformed how we communicate with plain objects and machines. It has accelerated communication and data analysis making it more productive and efficient at home or the workplace. However, th...

Where is home? Is there a home?

We have been renting up in Maine for the past year (2 different properties) while also maintaining our primary home in Mass. it’s been a great experience for us. We can’t travel internatio...

Gift and Estate Tax vs Capital Gains Tax: Which Is Less?

Capital gains tax rates might be lower than the gift and estate tax rate, but how you handle your estate and whether you use a trust can make a big difference in taxes owed....

Careful Giving Up Your Career To Be A Stay-At-Home Parent

In April 2017, I made a commitment to be a stay-at-home parent for the first five years of my son's life. When my daughter was born in December 2019, I made the same commitment for the sake of equalit...

Paying Mortgage Discount Points: A Powerful And Misunderstood Option

Mortgage rates are always a hot topic in the news. Whether they are up or down they are newsworthy. There is a way to save on your mortgage and get a better great rate, regardless of whether rates are...

Want to Move to Portugal? What to Consider Financially

Knowing what to expect when it comes to your taxes, investments, real estate, Social Security benefits and other money-related issues is critical....

How does retirement work with kids at home?

People are getting married later and kids move out later. For instance I am 62 and going to back to school night tomorrow for my youngest. I can’t downsize yet and I still got my wife and three ...

A Different Way to Approach Your Mortgage in Retirement

Conventional wisdom says don't carry any mortgage into retirement, and if you can manage that debt-free feat, good for you. But there are other options....

Seeking investment advice for a concerened 61 yr old.

I am 61 years old. Reasonably healthy and still working. Wife is 65 and on disabilty but better after 2 new knees. I don't have any retirement plan other than SS. We just paid off our house, vehicles ...

Is An Adjustable Rate Mortgage a Good Idea?

When it comes to choosing a mortgage, one of the most significant decisions homeowners face is whether to opt for a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). While fixed-rate mortgages...

Benefits of Permanent Life Insurance in Your Estate Plan

Liquidity and tax-free benefits can bring peace of mind to policyholders, and the healthier and younger you are when you get it, the better....